Without…emptiness filling up everything

Charlotte’s death forever changed Leopold. The warmth he concealed beneath a reserved nature was now “replaced for ever by a loveless chill.” It was written that “it was grief to look at him. He seemed so heartbroken.” 

The Princess of Wales’s post mortem was performed and Charlotte was prepared for burial. Leopold stood guard as his son was wrapped in linen and placed him in a simple open coffin. His tiny, delicate heart was placed separately in an urn then the same was performed for his beloved wife. The Prince’s love was rested in blue velvet covered coffin.

His days were now empty with him taking up the habit of walking about the park in the rain, a miniature of Charlotte clasped in his hand. At night, he shut himself in the bedroom Charlotte laid in and sat with her until morning. Leopold ordered his wife’s sitting room with her belonging placed about not be moved. 

All of Europe mourned the Princess especially in England. Public buildings were draped in black. Everyone donned black. Religious establishments performed memorial services. Shops replaced the joyous wedding portrait with an image of “Charlotte rising through an escort of angels to take her place in the heavenly palace.” 

Bells and Muffled Drums 

On Tuesday, November 18 1817, a black carriage drawn by six black horses departed for Windsor carrying the “little Prince and his heart” with his mother following” in a hearse drawn by eight black horses with tall black plumes.” Leopold was behind his wife and son’s carriage. The 10th Hussars escorted the family to Egham where the Royal Horse Guards relieved them of their duty. 

Arriving after dark, Charlotte rested in Lower Lodge and her son, temporary rested in the Royal Vault in St. George’s Chapel. Leopold remained at his wife’s side.

Wednesday dawned with Charlotte laying in state until the evening when she was bore to St. George’s chapel. Leopold walked behind the coffin with tears streaking his face. After the service, he remained in the Royal Vault praying. The royal mother and son would “remain there until the tomb and memorial the people were buying for them were ready.”

“The Princely Widower”

Nearly a month later, Sir Thomas Lawrence delivered the finished portrait of Charlotte. In a low voice, struggling to hold onto his composure, he said, “Two generations gone. Gone in a moment! I have felt for myself, but I have felt for the Prince Regent. My Charlotte is gone from this country—it has lost her. She was good, she was an admirable woman. None could know my Charlotte as I did know her! It was my happiness, my duty to know her character, but it was my delight!”   

Leopold remained at Claremont alone and “still talked most about Charlotte.” He attended some dinner parties and hosted a few but he was “still so dejected that he was a dour host and such a dull companion at other’s people’s table that hostesses despaired of him. It was as much of a relief to them as to him when he went back to Claremont.” 

In 1818 another woman entered his life, the duke and Duchess of Kent delivered a baby girl—Victoria. “Dearest Uncle Leopold” as she deemed him “was determined to stand in in for him (The Duke of Kent who died in 1820) as much as he could. Since Parliament voted to grant him fifty thousand pounds a year for the rest of his life, he paid some of the duke’s debts, arranged to pay others and paid for Victoria’s education. He was very much the loving uncle and the one person he loved was Victoria. 

Leopold did have mistresses but only one actress Caroline received a signed contract because of her resemblance to Charlotte. At this time, negotiations to accept the throne of Greece began, which filled his time and in February 1830, he rejected it. 

At that time William IV took Great Britian throne, with Victoria as heir and another revolution erupted in France. The province known as Austrian Netherlands or Brussels followed France. On October 4, 1830, the Belgians declared their Independence. At a conference of French and British dignitaries, their independence was recognized and their neutrality was granted. A monarch was required for this nation and the Belgians offered the crown to Leopold. He accepted. 

“Farewell, England”

Before leaving England, Leopold gave up his house in London as well as his annuity but convinced the government to continue the donations to Charlotte’s various charities. He couldn’t part with Claremont so it was agreed that the house should be his for the rest of his life. At the end of June 1831, he departed England. 

“Almost fifty years later he told his niece Queen Victoria that he had ‘never recovered the feeling of happiness’ that ‘blessed’ his short life with Charlotte. Leopold wrote of Claremont, “Claremont remains as the brightest epoch of my otherwise melancholy childhood.” 

Like every king, Leopold I of Belgium needed heirs so he decided upon the twenty-year-old Princess Louise-Marie, eldest daughter of King Louis- Philippe of France. The royal couple married on August 9, 1832. She bore him four children, three sons, the first who died within a year and a daughter, christened Charlotte. Louise-Marie adored her husband but sadly, knew that his heart belonged to Charlotte. Just as his children knew he cared for Victoria more than themselves. On February 10, 1840, Leopold’s niece married his nephew, Albert. 

Tragedy struck again on December 9, 1841 when his nephew died.Victoria who sometime addressed him as “My dear father” and Leopold shared their grief and understanding their loss of spouse.  In September 1850, Leopold lost his second wife. 

Pleurisy and gall-stones now had the elderly prince bedridden. Death came for him on December 10, 1865. He asked to have his body taken and buried in Windsor with Charlotte and their son. His ministers refused. Even as they all knew where his heart, mind and soul rested as his last two breaths were used to speak, “Charlotte…Charlotte.”